[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 53 (Monday, March 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19340-19343]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05708]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2024-N002; FXES11140400000-245-FF04E00000]


Endangered Species; Recovery Permit Applications

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit applications; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received 
applications for permits to conduct activities intended to enhance the 
propagation or survival of endangered species under the Endangered 
Species Act. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal 
agencies to comment on these applications. Before issuing any of the 
requested permits, we will take into consideration any information that 
we receive during the public comment period.

DATES: We must receive written data or comments on the applications by 
April 17, 2024.

ADDRESSES: 
    Reviewing Documents: Submit requests for copies of applications and 
other information submitted with the applications to Karen Marlowe (see 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). All requests and comments should 
specify the applicant name and application number (e.g., Mary Smith, 
ESPER0001234).
    Submitting Comments: If you wish to comment, you may submit 
comments by one of the following methods:
     Email (preferred method): [email protected]. Please 
include your name and return address in your email message. If you do 
not receive a confirmation from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that 
we have received your email message, contact us directly at the 
telephone number listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
     U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office, 
Ecological Services, 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30345 (Attn: 
Karen Marlowe, Permit Coordinator).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Marlowe, Permit Coordinator, via 
telephone at 404-679-7097 or via email at [email protected]. 
Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of 
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or 
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals 
outside the United States should use the relay services offered within 
their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in 
the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
invite review and comment from the public and local, State, Tribal, and 
Federal agencies on applications we have received for permits to 
conduct certain activities with endangered and threatened species under 
section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended 
(ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and our regulations in the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 17. Documents and other 
information submitted with the applications are available for review, 
subject to the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended (5 
U.S.C. 552a), and the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552).

Background

    With some exceptions, the ESA prohibits take of listed species 
unless a Federal permit is issued that authorizes such take. The 
definition of ``take'' in the ESA includes hunting, shooting, harming, 
wounding, or killing, and also such activities as pursuing, harassing, 
trapping, capturing, or collecting.
    A recovery permit issued by us under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA 
authorizes the permittee to take endangered or threatened species while 
engaging in activities that are conducted for scientific purposes that 
promote recovery of species or for enhancement of propagation or 
survival of species. These activities often include the capture and 
collection of species, which would result in prohibited take if a 
permit were not issued. Our regulations implementing section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA for these permits are found at 50 CFR 17.22 for 
endangered wildlife species, 50 CFR 17.32 for threatened wildlife 
species, 50 CFR 17.62 for endangered plant species, and 50 CFR 17.72 
for threatened plant species.

Permit Applications Available for Review and Comment

    The ESA requires that we invite public comment before issuing these 
permits. Accordingly, we invite local, State, Tribal, and Federal 
agencies, and the public to submit written data, views, or arguments 
with respect to these applications. The comments and recommendations 
that will be most useful and likely to influence agency decisions are 
those supported by quantitative information or studies. Proposed 
activities in the following permit requests are for the recovery and 
enhancement of propagation or survival of the species in the wild.

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 Permit  application
         No.                 Applicant               Species               Location             Activity           Type of take         Permit action
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ES065972-4...........  U.S. Forest Service;  Tricolored bat          Ozark-St. Francis    Presence/probable    Enter hibernacula    Amendment.
                        Russellville, AR.     (Perimyotis             National Forests,    absence surveys.     and maternity
                                              subflavus).             Arkansas.                                 roost caves;
                                                                                                                capture, handle,
                                                                                                                identify, band,
                                                                                                                radio-tag, and
                                                                                                                release.
PER5292605-0.........  Amanda Miller;        Gray bat (Myotis        Alabama and          Presence/probable    Capture, handle,     New.
                        Winchester, TN.       grisescens), Indiana    Tennessee.           absence surveys.     identify, band,
                                              bat (Myotis sodalis),                                             radio-tag, and
                                              northern long-eared                                               release.
                                              bat (Myotis
                                              septentrionalis), and
                                              tricolored bat
                                              (Perimyotis
                                              subflavus).
PER5294766-0.........  Braci Gatlin;         Gray bat (Myotis        Alabama, Georgia,    Presence/probable    Capture, handle,     New.
                        Moundville, AL.       grisescens), Indiana    Mississippi, and     absence surveys.     identify, band,
                                              bat (Myotis sodalis),   Tennessee.                                radio-tag, and
                                              northern long-eared                                               release.
                                              bat (Myotis
                                              septentrionalis), and
                                              tricolored bat
                                              (Perimyotis
                                              subflavus).

[[Page 19341]]

 
ES62026D-3...........  Catherine Haase,      Tricolored bat          Kentucky and         Assess bat           Capture, handle,     Amendment.
                        Austin Peay State     (Perimyotis             Tennessee.           community            identify, band,
                        University;           subflavus).                                  structure and        radio-tag, and
                        Clarksville, TN.                                                   habitat use.         release.
ES02332D-4...........  Michelle Gilley;      Gray bat (Myotis        Bats: Alabama,       Bats: Presence/      Bats: Capture,       Renewal and
                        Mars Hill, NC.        grisescens), Indiana    Arkansas,            probable absence     handle, identify,    amendment.
                                              bat (Myotis sodalis),   Connecticut,         surveys, studies     band, radio-tag,
                                              northern long-eared     Delaware, Georgia,   to document          and release;
                                              bat (Myotis             Illinois, Indiana,   habitat use, and     Carolina northern
                                              septentrionalis),       Iowa, Kansas,        population           flying squirrel:
                                              tricolored bat          Kentucky,            monitoring;          Capture, handle,
                                              (Perimyotis             Maryland,            Carolina northern    identify, radio-
                                              subflavus), Virginia    Massachusetts,       flying squirrel:     tag, and release.
                                              big-eared bat           Michigan,            Presence/probable
                                              (Corynorhinus           Minnesota,           absence surveys
                                              (=Plecotus)             Mississippi,         and studies of
                                              townsendii              Missouri,            home ranges,
                                              virginianus), and       Nebraska, New        foraging
                                              Carolina northern       Hampshire, New       behaviors, and
                                              flying squirrel         Jersey, New York,    roost tree
                                              (Glaucomys sabrinus     North Carolina,      preferences.
                                              coloratus).             North Dakota,
                                                                      Ohio, Oklahoma,
                                                                      Pennsylvania,
                                                                      Rhode Island,
                                                                      South Carolina,
                                                                      South Dakota,
                                                                      Tennessee,
                                                                      Vermont, Virginia,
                                                                      West Virginia,
                                                                      Wisconsin, and
                                                                      Wyoming; Carolina
                                                                      northern flying
                                                                      squirrel: North
                                                                      Carolina,
                                                                      Tennessee, and
                                                                      Virginia.
PER5521520-0.........  Sara Jeanine          Gray bat (Myotis        Alabama, Georgia,    Presence/probable    Enter hibernacula    New.
                        McLaughlin-Johnson;   grisescens), Indiana    Kentucky,            absence surveys.     and maternity
                        Kingsport, TN.        bat (Myotis sodalis),   Mississippi, North                        roost caves,
                                              northern long-eared     Carolina,                                 capture, handle,
                                              bat (Myotis             Tennessee, and                            identify, band,
                                              septentrionalis), and   Virginia.                                 radio tag, and
                                              tricolored bat                                                    release.
                                              (Perimyotis
                                              subflavus).
PER0037840-1.........  Cara Rogers;          Gray bat (Myotis        Alabama, Arkansas,   Presence/probable    Capture with mist    Amendment.
                        Ypsilanti, MI.        grisescens), Indiana    Colorado,            absence surveys.     nets, handle,
                                              bat (Myotis sodalis),   Connecticut,                              identify, band,
                                              and tricolored bat      Delaware, District                        radio-tag, and
                                              (Perimyotis             of Columbia,                              release.
                                              subflavus).             Florida, Georgia,
                                                                      Illinois, Indiana,
                                                                      Iowa, Kansas,
                                                                      Kentucky,
                                                                      Louisiana, Maine,
                                                                      Maryland,
                                                                      Massachusetts,
                                                                      Michigan,
                                                                      Minnesota,
                                                                      Mississippi,
                                                                      Missouri,
                                                                      Nebraska, New
                                                                      Hampshire, New
                                                                      Jersey, New
                                                                      Mexico, New York,
                                                                      North Carolina,
                                                                      North Dakota,
                                                                      Ohio, Oklahoma,
                                                                      Pennsylvania,
                                                                      Rhode Island,
                                                                      South Carolina,
                                                                      South Dakota,
                                                                      Tennessee, Texas,
                                                                      Vermont, Virginia,
                                                                      Wisconsin, West
                                                                      Virginia, and
                                                                      Wyoming.
ES77472C-1...........  Streamtechs, LLC;     Amber darter (Percina   Georgia............  Presence/probable    Capture, identify,   Renewal.
                        Athens, GA.           antesella), blue                             absence surveys.     and release.
                                              shiner (Cyprinella
                                              caerulea), Cherokee
                                              darter (Etheostoma
                                              scotti), Conasauga
                                              logperch (Percina
                                              jenkinsi), Etowah
                                              darter (Etheostoma
                                              etowahae), and
                                              goldline darter
                                              (Percina aurolineata).

[[Page 19342]]

 
PER5971699-0.........  Theresa Wetzel;       Gray bat (Myotis        Alabama, Arkansas,   Presence/probable    Enter hibernacula    New.
                        Lexington, KY.        grisescens), Indiana    Colorado,            absence surveys.     and maternity
                                              bat (Myotis sodalis),   Connecticut,                              roost caves;
                                              northern long-eared     Delaware, District                        capture, handle,
                                              bat (Myotis             of Columbia,                              identify, band,
                                              septentrionalis),       Florida, Georgia,                         radio-tag, collect
                                              Ozark big-eared bat     Illinois, Indiana,                        tissue samples,
                                              (Corynorhinus           Iowa, Kansas,                             and release.
                                              (=Plecotus)             Kentucky,
                                              townsendii ingens),     Louisiana, Maine,
                                              tricolored bat          Maryland,
                                              (Perimyotis             Massachusetts,
                                              subflavus), and         Michigan,
                                              Virginia big-eared      Minnesota,
                                              bat (Corynorhinus       Mississippi,
                                              (=Plecotus)             Missouri,
                                              townsendii              Nebraska, New
                                              virginianus).           Hampshire, New
                                                                      Jersey, New
                                                                      Mexico, New York,
                                                                      North Carolina,
                                                                      North Dakota,
                                                                      Ohio, Oklahoma,
                                                                      Pennsylvania,
                                                                      Rhode Island,
                                                                      South Carolina,
                                                                      South Dakota,
                                                                      Tennessee, Texas,
                                                                      Vermont, Virginia,
                                                                      Wisconsin, West
                                                                      Virginia, and
                                                                      Wyoming.
ES97308A-2...........  John Harris; Scott,   Arkansas fatmucket      Alabama, Arkansas,   Presence/probable    Capture, collect     Renewal and
                        AR.                   (Lampsilis powellii),   Illinois, Indiana,   absence surveys,     tissue swabs,        amendment.
                                              Curtis pearlymussel     Iowa, Kansas,        population           release, and
                                              (Epioblasma             Kentucky,            estimate surveys,    salvage relic
                                              florentina curtisii),   Louisiana,           and DNA sampling.    shells.
                                              fanshell (Cyprogenia    Michigan,
                                              stegaria), fat          Minnesota,
                                              pocketbook (Potamilus   Mississippi,
                                              capax), Higgins eye     Missouri,
                                              (Lampsilis              Nebraska, New
                                              higginsii), Louisiana   York, Ohio,
                                              pearlshell              Oklahoma,
                                              (Margaritifera          Pennsylvania,
                                              hembeli), Louisiana     South Dakota,
                                              pigtoe (Pleurobema      Tennessee, Texas,
                                              riddellii), Neosho      Virginia, West
                                              mucket (Lampsilis       Virginia,
                                              rafinesqueana),         Wisconsin.
                                              Ouachita fanshell
                                              (Cyprogenia sp. cf
                                              aberti), Ouachita
                                              rock pocketbook
                                              (Arcidens wheeleri),
                                              pink mucket
                                              (Lampsilis abrupta),
                                              rabbitsfoot (Quadrula
                                              cylindrica
                                              cylindrica), ring
                                              pink (Obovaria
                                              retusa), rough pigtoe
                                              (Pleurobema plenum),
                                              salamander mussel
                                              (Simpsonaias
                                              ambigua), scaleshell
                                              (Leptodea leptodon),
                                              sheepnose
                                              (Plethobasus
                                              cyphyus), snuffbox
                                              (Epioblasma
                                              triquetra), speckled
                                              pocketbook (Lampsilis
                                              streckeri),
                                              spectaclecase
                                              (Cumberlandia
                                              monodonta), western
                                              fanshell (Cyprogenia
                                              aberti), and winged
                                              mapleleaf (Quadrula
                                              fragosa).
ES81202C-1...........  Michael Maltba;       Gray bat (Myotis        Alabama, Arkansas,   Enter hibernacula    Presence/probable    Renewal and
                        Whitesburg, KY.       grisescens), Indiana    Connecticut,         and maternity        absence surveys      amendment.
                                              bat (Myotis sodalis),   Delaware, Florida,   roost caves,         and studies to
                                              northern long-eared     Georgia, Illinois,   capture, handle,     document habitat
                                              bat (Myotis             Indiana, Iowa,       band, radio tag,     use.
                                              septentrionalis), and   Kansas, Kentucky,    collect hair
                                              tricolored bat          Maryland,            samples, wing
                                              (Perimyotis             Massachusetts,       punch, and light
                                              subflavus).             Michigan,            tag.
                                                                      Minnesota,
                                                                      Mississippi,
                                                                      Missouri,
                                                                      Nebraska, New
                                                                      Hampshire, New
                                                                      Jersey, New,
                                                                      Mexico, New York,
                                                                      North Carolina,
                                                                      North Dakota,
                                                                      Ohio, Oklahoma,
                                                                      Pennsylvania,
                                                                      Rhode Island,
                                                                      South Carolina,
                                                                      South Dakota,
                                                                      Tennessee, Texas,
                                                                      Vermont, Virginia,
                                                                      West Virginia,
                                                                      Wisconsin, and
                                                                      Wyoming.
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Public Availability of Comments

    Written comments we receive become part of the administrative 
record associated with this action. Before including your address, 
phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information 
in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--
including your

[[Page 19343]]

personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any 
time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so. All submissions from organizations or 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be 
made available for public disclosure in their entirety.

Next Steps

    After the comment period closes, we will make decisions regarding 
permit issuance. If we issue permits to any of the applicants listed 
above in this notice, we will publish a subsequent notice in the 
Federal Register. You may locate the notice announcing the permit 
issuance by searching https://www.regulations.gov for the application 
number listed above in this document. Type in your search exactly as 
the application number appears above, with spaces and hyphens as 
necessary. For example, to find information about the potential 
issuance of Permit No. PER 1234567-0, you would go to https://www.regulations.gov and put ``PER 1234567-0'' in the Search field.

Authority

    We publish this notice under section 10(c) of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Lawrence Williams,
Acting Deputy Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, 
Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2024-05708 Filed 3-15-24; 8:45 am]
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